The law in Victoria and Australia more broadly makes it pretty clear that it’s unlawful for an employer, school, or service provider to treat you badly because of your gender identity, sexuality, or intersex status.

What is and what isn’t discrimination can be pretty confusing, but knowledge is power, so we’ve teamed up with Aimee Cooper, from Victoria Legal Aid, to walk us through what exactly discrimination is and what you can do if you’ve experienced it.

This article will cover a fair bit of information, so in summary:

It is against the law for an employer, school, or service provider to treat you badly because of your gender identity, sexuality, or intersex status.

You can get free and confidential advice about discrimination from Victoria Legal Aid.

It isn’t always necessary to go to Court in order to get an outcome under discrimination law, your case may be resolved quickly, informally, and confidentially.

Raising your concerns about discrimination can help make things better for the rest of the LGBTI community and reduce discrimination in the future.

What Counts As Discrimination?

Ok first things first. It’s worth mentioning that the definition of gender identity covers both transgender and gender diverse people, and that you do not have to have ‘legally’ changed your gender marker to have it recognised by your school or workplace . The definition of sexuality expressly covers being straight, gay, lesbian, and bisexual. It does not expressly cover people who are asexual or pansexual however it is arguable that these sexualities are covered.

Discrimination can be really direct, like “I’m not hiring you because you are transgender”. However discrimination can also be indirect, such as “students must wear the uniform that aligns with the gender marker on their birth certificate”, which disadvantages students who are trans or gender diverse.

Here’s some examples of unlawful discrimination:

A school or employer saying that you can’t wear the uniform or use the bathroom that corresponds with your gender identity.

A teacher, employer or service provider consistently misgendering you and dead naming you after you have explained to them what your name and pronouns are.

A school asking you not to take a same gender partner to the formal.

A GP refusing to treat you or give you a referral for help to transition.

An employer refusing to hire you, firing you or treating you negatively because of your gender identity, sexuality, or intersex status.

Sometimes you might suspect that your sexuality, gender identity, or intersex status is the reason why you’ve been treated badly but you might be unsure. It isn’t always necessary that discrimination be explicit for it to be unlawful, however you must be able to point to something that suggests your gender identity, sexuality or intersex status is the reason. For example if you come out as gay to your employer and they fire you the next day, if there is no other timely reason, you can argue that they fired you because of your sexuality even though it wasn’t the reason they gave you.

If you’re unsure whether something might be discrimination it is a good idea to get some advice so you can make an informed decision about what to do.

Where To Go For Support and Advice

Victoria Legal Aid has a team of lawyers who can give free advice to you about discrimination law, especially when it relates to sexuality, gender or intersex status. What you tell them is confidential and they can’t disclose what you have said to anyone, including your parents, without your permission (unless you or someone else is at imminent risk of serious harm). It isn’t necessary to have parental consent before you speak to a lawyer, the lawyer can speak with you without your parents so long as the lawyer is satisfied that you are capable of giving instructions and understanding their advice.

When you call a lawyer for advice there is absolutely no pressure for you to do anything - it’s completely up to you whether you want to make a discrimination complaint or do anything with the advice. Lawyers act on instructions, which means that they can’t do anything about your case without your knowledge and consent.

On contacting Victoria Legal Aid you will need to tell them briefly what has happened and then the lawyer will explain the relevant laws and whether you might have a discrimination claim. The lawyer can also let you know your options and the process if you would like to make a claim.

If you have a potential discrimination law claim then the lawyer might offer you an appointment to give you some more detailed advice. It is completely up to you whether you do anything further, you might just want to get some advice and leave it at that.

What’s the Actual Process for Making a Complaint?

Most people think you have to go to Court to get an outcome, but that’s not always the case.

The first step might be writing a letter to the organisation you’re complaining about, written by a lawyer or by you with their support. It can outline what they’ve done, how that might breach the law, and what you want them to do to fix it. With this process you might be able to negotiate an outcome without taking any legal action at all.

Another option is to make a discrimination complaint to a human rights commission where a mediation can take place. At the mediation you could reach a settlement agreement with the organisation about the things they’ll do to resolve your concerns (eg. If your complaint is that your workplace won’t use your prefered name, the outcome you request could be that all prefered names are used for all staff going forward). The human rights commission will keep your complaint confidential as this isn’t a public process.

Generally schools, employers and other businesses don’t really want a public discrimination case on their hands. It looks really bad for them if there are rumours, especially if there’s media, that says someone has made a discrimination complaint against them. This means that these organisations generally want claims to resolve quickly and confidentially. So it is really unlikely that your school, employer, or service provider will “go public” about a complaint you make in a letter or to a human rights commission. Generally they will insist that a term of any settlement agreement with them is that the complaint be kept confidential.

It is only once a complaint is lodged at a Court or a Tribunal that it is a public complaint. However it is possible to have your complaint remain anonymous so that you cannot be identified, particularly if you are under 18.

It is a good idea to get some advice before lodging a discrimination complaint because you have multiple options and a lawyer can help you identify which option is best for you.

What are the outcomes?

In the early stages where you’re negotiating, the outcome can be anything that you and the organisation are willing to agree on.

You can make a real difference to everyone by raising your complaint with an organisation, as this forces them to educate themselves about their obligations and makes it less likely that they will treat other LGBTI people badly in the future. Basically, standing up for your rights can help make things better for everyone else.

Here are some examples of things you could include in a settlement agreement:

Your employer or school agree to make changes to the way you are treated, for example to allow you to wear a particular uniform.

The organisation agrees to change its policies to be more inclusive of LGBTI people.

The organisation agrees to provide training to its staff on how to be more inclusive of LGBTI people.

You and the organisation agree not to speak badly about each other to disclose details of the complaint.

The organisation agrees to pay you some compensation for the pain and suffering caused, or for the income you have lost.

At a hearing the most common outcome is some financial compensation. It is possible to obtain the other above outcomes at a hearing however it is more likely that you would get these things through a settlement agreement.

Example of a Discrimination Case

Sarah

Sarah applied for a job at a fast food restaurant and was successful in her application. When Sarah started work her manager told her that she would have to wear a name tag with the name on her birth certificate, John, because this was their policy.

Sarah was really upset and stressed out at the prospect of people misgendering and dead naming her. Sarah sought some advice from a lawyer at Victoria Legal Aid. The lawyer explained that this may be unlawful indirect discrimination and worked with Sarah to write a letter to her employer explaining that addressing Sarah as ‘John’ is unlawful and asking them to give her a name tag that says ‘Sarah’. Victoria Legal Aid sent the draft letter to Sarah to check before sending it to her employer. After they received the letter the employer spoke to Victoria Legal Aid and explained they hadn’t properly understood their legal obligations. They agreed to allow Sarah to have a name tag that said Sarah and to get some training in their obligations under discrimination law. It also meant that other trans and gender diverse people working there would have their name recognised in the future. This allowed Sarah to continue working there without discrimination.

(Heads up that this is a representative case study only that does not disclose the details of any individual’s case)

Medical transitioning is when a trans person makes the decision to access medical options, such as hormones, surgery or behaviour training to feel more comfortable in their own skin. These options can have a big impact on the way a person expresses their gender.

Medical transitioning isn’t about ‘fitting in’. Sure, that can be part of it, but it’s really about doing what helps you feel most comfortable personally. Keep in mind that it’s not for everyone - lots of trans and gender diverse people have no interest in or access to medically transitioning. Surgeries and other treatments are just tools to help achieve what feels right to you, and shouldn’t ever be seen as essential to being a ‘real’ man, woman or anything else.

Getting Started

Step 1: Go to your GP to get a referral to a psychiatrist or other professional who specialises in gender therapy. This can be your family doctor, or someone at an LGBTI health clinic like Northside Clinic or Prahran Market Clinic. If you’re under 18 the Royal Children’s Hospital and Monash Gender Clinic both have support services available for trans young people. If you can’t find a local service, but have a supportive GP, they can contact Northside Clinic to access advice on how to better support you.

Seeing a psychiatrist may seem like a big step, and your experience may be varied, but it’s important to remember that at no stage are you locked in. If you’re not happy with your sessions or don’t feel they’re right for you, you’re absolutely able to seek support elsewhere.

When under 18, the first medical option available to you is to you is puberty blockers. They’re most effective for people in the early stages of puberty, if you’re younger it’s definitely worth discussing with your doctor. Accessing puberty blockers requires psychiatrist approval, parental consent from both parents, and an endocrinologist.Puberty blockers can stop your body developing things like breasts or an ‘adam’s apple’, and basically give you a bit more time to figure things out. It’s also a reversible treatment.

If you’re interested, once you’re 18 you can start hormone replacement therapy (HRT). This is when you adjust hormone levels in your body to better reflect your identity. Beginning HRT under 18 years of age is tricky, and requires a ruling from the Family Court.

Surgery

Surgery is something you might consider too, and while it isn’t for everyone, for some it can be hugely beneficial. For chest and genital surgeries you will need additional approvals from your psychiatrist. At present, both top surgery (surgery on your chest) and genital surgery can’t actually be performed on anyone under 18 years of age in Victoria. Cosmetic surgeries such as nose or chin reconstructions are not subject to special restrictions.

Speech Pathology

Another option that might not seem apparent is speech pathology. For me, my voice sometimes made me uncomfortable, and my doctor recommended checking it out and seeing how I felt. Speech Pathology is vocal training to help change the pitch of your voice and speech patterns to something you’re more comfortable with. The best thing about this one is there’s no restrictions around age or who can access it. La Trobe University has a speech pathology clinic that specialises in voice training for trans people.

Accessing Services

If you’re under 18 and don’t have the support of your parents/guardians medical transition can be a challenge. Under the law parental consent and support is critical to any medical treatment. Access to services in regional areas can also be limited or not available. In these cases there are still ways to get support online through communities like Minus18 and Ygender, as well as counselling chat services like Switchboard and QLife. Connecting with other people and talking about what you’re going through can be a great source of support.

Keeping Track

Documenting your transition can be a pretty empowering thing that some people decide to do.

Since changes can occur over a long period of time, taking photos or recording a vlog gives you the opportunity to watch your progress back. Seeing how far you’ve come is a great way to keep motivated, and sharing your progress with others can help them better understand the process.

Go At Your Own Pace

Take all the time you need until you’re ready before undergoing any treatments, but keep in mind that starting the conversations early helps you get better informed and means you don’t have to wait as long once you’re sure.

The treatments available are constantly improving, and while we still have a way to go, there’s a lot of great options and support out there.

Some people bind their chest as a way of dealing with chest dysphoria, presenting as masculine in public spaces or even just cosplaying as a character with a flat chest. You should chat to a trusted health professional before you start binding.

Unfortunately there's a lot of misinformation out there about binding that can be unsafe, and it's important that if you do decide to bind, that you do it safely. Check out this super useful guide on how to bind safely, including some more cost accessible methods.

Different Binding Methods

1. BandagesDon’t bind with bandages. Nope. Not even just for a day. Don’t do it. Yes, I know Lady Gaga did it that one time. Don’t do it. Bandages are the least safe way of binding out there. They can cause permanent damage to your chest tissue, lungs and ribs. It’s not worth the risk, I promise you. Especially Ace Bandages! They’re designed to get tighter with movement - which is the last thing you want!

2. Layering shirtsThis can be super useful if you’ve already bound your chest and you still have some visible chest tissue, or if you don’t own anything to bind with. It’s not hugely effective if you have a large chest, but hey. Better than nothing. A tight sports bra or undershirt under one or two larger shirts (button up shirts hanging loose, particularly ones with pockets on the chest are great for this) can make your chest look dramatically smaller.

3. Sports bra methodIf you own a couple of sports bras at home, try this out sometime. A tight fitting sports bra can totally flatten a small chest, and for those of us who are a bit bigger, try layering a couple. If you wear one bra normally and a second one backwards, it can be even more effective. There’s a few guidelines to follow, though! Try not to wear bras that are more than a size too small- they might fit tighter, but they can be super damaging. And if they’re particularly tight, don’t wear them for too long! I keep to a rule of 8 hours tops.

4. NeopreneThis is a thick, kinda rubbery material. Like wetsuits. Actually, exactly like wetsuits. You can buy back braces and the like made out of this that will work for chest binding too. Just do them up under your arm to hide the Velcro, combine with a loose shirt and you’re good to go. You might need to trim it a little bit to fit, but it’s easy enough to do!

5. Sports compression wearA lot of athletic companies make compression shirts. They’re easy to put on and often in stock at places like SportsMart so you can even try them on!

6. The pantyhose methodStockings and pantyhose with a ‘control top’ can be converted into a super cheap binder. They’re not the most comfortable or effective things but when you’re stuck, it’ll help. Just trim the legs off, and cut a hole in the crotch for your neck- and voila! You might need to layer these, too, to make them more effective. Keep in mind that this isn't the safest method, and try not to do it for long, but it's good for an emergency.

7. Professional bindersThere’s a few companies that sell binders specifically for dealing with gynecomastia (growth of breast tissue) in cis men, and some that are even designed for trans people especially! Most of these you can only buy online, and they tend not to be cheap, but they’re the most effective method out there. With a bit of googling you’ll also find some good reviews of most of these to help choose before you spend all your money!

Safety Tips

Some use binding methods to help alleviate body dysphoria, but it has a level of risk attached to it. Because you are compressing tissue, it can cause damage and potentially even breakages to your ribs if done improperly, if things go wrong with your ribs, it has the potential to be lethal. So it's important to be careful, safe, and use correct methods to stay healthy, and look after your own wellbeing. Always talk to a health professional if you experience any pain or major discomfort.

Use the safest methods you can afford, and watch out for chafing, excessive sweating, rashes and pain. However, if you experience any issues around chafing, try wearing an undershirt or using a talcum powder under your binder of choice.

If you notice any pain in your chest, give yourself a breather and try to restrict yourself to 8 hours of binding at a time.

If you are having any difficulty breathing or are experiencing pain, take your binder off straight away. And be sure to get yourself to a doctor or hospital as soon as possible if that doesn’t make it go away.

Take breaks from binding, too. If you’ve been binding every day for a week, maybe stay home for a day where no one will see your chest, or try layering shirts for a day or two.

There are a lot of positives to having sex. It’s good exercise, reduces stress, improves your mood and it feels good. Obviously it’s not for everyone, but for those that like to dabble in some good old hanky panky from time to time, there are a lot of upsides!

That said, there are a few risks involved in having sex, so it’s always best to be safe. The obvious thing to do is to wear protection, such as condoms and dental dams, but even then you’re not totally risk free.

What is an STI?

A Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) is term used to describe a variety of lots of different infections that can be passed on during sexual activity (including skin to skin, and contact with the vagina, anus, penis and oral sex).

There are heaps of different varieties of STIs, and the most effective way to prevent them is to use protection (such as a condom on sex toys and penises). For many people, STIs are a reality of being sexually active and protection isn’t 100% effective.

How can I tell I have one?

Every STI has different symptoms, usually a rash, bumps or burning sensation in the genital or mouth area.

It’s important to remember though that most of the time, STIs will have no signs or symptoms straight away. So the only way to know for certain is to have a sexual health test.

When to get tested

Everyone who is sexually active should go for a sexual health test every 3 - 6 months (3 months when you have multiple, different sexual partners). You should also get an additional test if you think you have a symptom (burning when you pee or poop, a rash around your genitals, bumps, etc).

You can also get a test if you sleep with someone and later find out that they have an STI. Using protection is crucial, but not 100, so getting into the habit of regular check-ups gives you peace of mind.

OK I want to get tested!

Amazing! Getting tested regularly should be part of the calendar for everyone who is sexually active. If it’s new, it can seem a bit daunting or awkward, so we’ve compiled some of the must know information about it all.

Where do I go to get tested

Your regular doctor can perform a sexual health check up - but not everyone wants to go to their regular doctor for a check up for a lot of reasons (it could cost more or you may like to just speak to someone who specialises in sexual health). You can talk to your parents about going if you aren’t able to book yourself.

Sexual health clinics specialise in sexual health check ups - and there are even some that a free, and some that are for queer and trans people too.

The clinics that specialise in sexual health are sometimes easier to go to for your first time since they have specially trained nurses and staff who can make the whole experience a lot less awkward. If you’re in Melbourne you can check out:

Any medical professional that you see will respect your rights and keep things confidential. Even if it’s the same family doctor that you have been going to for years and was a guest at your mum’s last birthday, by law they are not allowed to tell anyone except you the results of your test. This can still be a little bit tricky if your parents pay the bill or you are still on their Medicare, so if this is an issue for you then raise it with the clinic and they will find a solution.

What does getting tested involve?

The tests themselves aren’t actually bad! These days you you usually get instructions from the doctor or nurse and then go into the bathroom and do it yourself. If you have symptoms (like a rash, itching, or sores) the doctor might take a quick look before the tests.

Swabs For STIs that live in the throat, urethra, vagina or anus, you’ll likely be given a tiny swab (like one of those things you use to clean your ears). When in the bathroom you then just insert the tip and put it into a ziplock bag.

Urine Test You’re probably going to have to pee into a little bottle and you may have to show any affected area to the nurse or doctor, but only if you feel comfortable to do so.

Blood Tests Sometimes a blood test will be involved. There are two ways blood tests are done depending on the clinic. Sometimes it will be done through a tiny prick in your finger and a few drops of blood. Other times they will take blood from your arm. The nurses will always do these ones, and you can look away if you don’t want to watch. Most of the time you won’t feel a thing and it’s over in a few seconds.

The amount of time it takes to get your results can vary. Some places newer clinics can give them to you on the spot. Other clinics will call you after a week. Some will need you to book an appointment and come back in.

What if I have an STI?

Depending on the STI you might need to go on medication, have a shot or something else entirely. You doctor will have a conversation with you about which treatment option is best for you.

For STIs like chlamydia or gonorrhoea, which can seem really scary, can be treated with a simple course of antibiotics. Not all STI’s have a cure, such as HIV or genital warts, but most can be managed effectively in a number of different ways, so talk to the doctor and try and work out what’s best for you- and your partners.

Telling Your Partners

Letting people that you’ve had sexual contact with in the last 3 months is really important. It allows them to know what might be going on in their own body, and helps them act to protect other people as well.

You don’t have to do it in person. You can get someone else to do it, or you can even use an online service that allows you to anonymously send someone a message alerting them to the fact that they may have an STI. This can get a little bit tricky if you don’t have the contact details of the person, so just do the best you can.

Sometimes it can be scary to tell someone, and it can be easy to assume they’ll be angry or upset at us. But in reality, most of the time the other person is happy to be told, and appreciates how difficult it can be to let them know.

That’s an overview for you! The best method of staying safe is to use protection AND get tested regularly. Neither is perfect, but doing them together will help give you and your partners’ peace of mind. And doesn’t that ultimately makes the whole thing more enjoyable?

So you finally decided to tell someone that you’re queer (YES! Go you!) and they’ve told another person without your permission - or maybe someone has found out without you telling them at all. It can feel overwhelming because coming out is YOUR decision, and having that decision taken away from you can feel invasive, and what comes next come seem scary.

How Being Outed Can Affect Someone

Being outed to your family, friends, the wider community or all of the above is probably one of the most frightening things that could happen in the process of coming out. It’s like you’re taking things slow, dipping your toe into the water, then all of a sudden you’ve been pushed in head first. When it’s overwhelming and you aren’t sure how to handle it, being outed can impact your mental health.

It’s totally normal to worry, especially if you aren’t sure how other people are going to react to the news.

Tough times like this pass quickly as you adjust yourself to the situation at hand. You soon find out who amongst your friends and family are there to support you, and with their help, you can power through it and in the end, you will feel all the better without the stress and worry of having to hide it!

There are also heaps of awesome organisations out there that can offer help and services to anyone finding themselves in a difficult situation. All these places have fantastic, experienced and trained staff and volunteers dedicated to helping you out!

Here are some ways to take back control

Come out (again)Take control of the situation yourself and own your sexuality or gender identity. This could be through making a Facebook post (“As most of you know by now, I’m bisexual.”) or another way that you feel comfortable with.

Showing confidence (even if it’s not 100% real) can be a huge help in situations like this, and demonstrates to others that your identity is your own.

Talk to the people who matterTake time to talk to the people that matter to you about being queer, especially the people who you have to see often. Sit them down and explain to them what it is you feel and how much you appreciate their support.

Keep activeIf you can, try not to isolate yourself from the situation or from the things you enjoy. Keep involved in your usual activities and at school, university and/or work since it can be a great way to keep yourself grounded (and keep your mind off the situation if you need it).

Try making new friends / networksGetting yourself out there and feeling connected to people who love and support you can be a hugely positive experience. You’re reading this so that’s a great start. If there aren’t any youth organisations near you, online communities (Like on Tumblr or Facebook Groups) can be incredible.

Recognise if things get too hardIt’s not always easy and it’s OK to recognise that you need extra support. If you’re experiencing a rough time at school, speak to your Wellbeing Coordinator and have a honest conversation about how you’re feeling.

You can also chat online to a professional at eHeadspace or another queer person at Qlife.

Remember, you’re not alone

Remember you're not alone in this! Countless other queer people (and most of us at Minus18) have been outed before we’re 100% ready.Here are a few words from some of our own Crew who have been outed:

‘I was outed as bi by my best friend in year 8, I got a lot of invasive, awkward questions. It was tough, but I definitely over thought it. It felt like everything was going to change and everyone was going to hate or reject me. I had so much fear but in the end people were generally okay with it’ – Alice.

‘My mum outed me as trans on her Facebook page. I was SO angry. It was meant to be something private I discussed with her but she didn’t quite get that. I decided to talk individually to other members of my family and through that process they now all accept me’– Marlee.

‘My girlfriend and I were outed as lesbians to the whole school at our graduation by being finalists for the ‘cutest couple’ competition. How bittersweet is that? We got a ton of hate from other students because of it. What really shone through was the incredible support of a lot people. Like, for every person who said a hateful comment, another person who we didn’t even know would speak up and defend us. I got to see how beautiful and kind other people can be and through that process we made new, stronger friends’ – Jess.

‘Mine was a typical gossip girl scenario. I told my closest friend, she told her mother, then she told my mum. I was upset because the decision to tell my parents was taken away from me. My mum was so lovely, and just said she was confused about why I didn't just tell her myself.’ – Andrew.

If you don't love yourself, how the hell you gonna love somebody else?

How good is volunteering? It’s one of my favourite ways to meet other queer people and give back to the communities that have helped me.

Activism takes on a whole bunch of different forms. It can be as simple as putting up posters around your school, starting a Stand Out Group or a Queer-Straight Alliance, volunteering at an organising like Minus18 (<3) or even starting a campaign yourself.

Activism even includes self-advocacy - like using the bathroom that feels right for you at work or school, wearing clothes that align with your gender or even bringing a date of the same gender to your school formal or family event.

Investing our time and personal energy into a cause can feel great - but it can also drain us emotionally which can cause us to feel burnt out if we don’t take care of ourselves. When we’re feeling drained or burnt out, we’re not normally able to put in as much effort into helping other people and we aren’t usually able to remain as positive.

We’ve learned a lot by volunteering at Minus18, so we wanted to share some of our tips to make it easier for you to take care of YOU.

Your wellbeing is number 1

Your ability to make change all depends on your own wellbeing. If you are burnt out, then you don’t have as much energy to give your cause. When you feel positive, it means you are able to devote energy into making other people feel positive too.

Be realistic about your workload

Try not to place too much pressure on yourself, and know what your limits are. You’ll likely want to reduce your activism during Year 12 or exam period, and this should always be OK as long as you communicate it to others. If you put your hand up for a task that you don’t have time for, it means the task won’t get done, and you might also be stopping someone else from putting their hand up too.

Try get something out of it

Volunteering doesn’t pay in money - but it’s a great benefit if it rewards you some other way. Are you getting a good feeling from helping other people? Are you making friends and hanging out with people you like? Are you learning skills that will help you later in life? All of these can make volunteering and activism more enjoyable.

Be kind to other activists

We’re all in this together, and even if you disagree with another person from within your community, it’s important to keep in mind that most of the time we all have a similar goal. It can be incredibly easy to criticise or talk aggressively about somebody else’s work. When they are in the same community it’s far more likely that you’ll get a response from them, and so it can feel like your criticisms were a quick win.

Unfortunately, a lot of the time all that this does is cut down another person who is trying to achieve the same thing you are. Try talking kindly to others, having conversations about your feelings and what strategies you would like to see implemented. Who knows, you might just find yourself a strong ally.

Taking breaks

It’s easy to get caught up in whatever cause you’re working towards and forget that you have limits. After all, when you’re really passionate about something it can be hard to step back. A lot of volunteers find themselves burning out and not being able to work on their causes at all, or not very well, because of this.

Taking breaks, even if it’s just for a day, is one of the most important ways to take care of yourself. Giving yourself time to relax is good for your mental health and for the causes you want to support. If you take care of yourself, you’ll be better positioned to help other people too.

Support networks

Having other people who can help you is great! If you’re part of a group of people working on the same project, you can all support each other, and when one person is getting overwhelmed someone else can step in and help them out.

if you’re working on a project independently, just having friends who understand what you’re doing and care helps to. Being able to talk about the problems you’re experiencing with other people is extremely validating.

Remind yourself why you care

It can all come back to why you began in the first place. If you are volunteering at a soup kitchen, and spend lots of time hidden away cooking, it can be refreshing to take a break and speak to the people you are helping.

Celebrate the victories you achieve, and take the time to remind yourself of the good that has been done in whatever area you’re working on.

Practice regular self care

Everyone has different needs, and what works for you may not work for someone else.

Make sure you are getting the right amount of sleep, and that you are eating properly and healthily.

If what you’re doing isn’t working, remember to reach out for help - whether from other people who you volunteer with, or a mental health professional.